FRINGILLID.E. 267 



[80.] 2. Linaria minor. (Ray.) Lesser Redpoll. 



Sub-family, Coccothraustina», Swains. Genus, Linaria, Auctor. 



Linaria rubra minor. Raii, Syn., p. 91, A. 9. 



Fringilla Linaria. Forster, Phil. Trans., lxii., p. 405, No. 28. 



Lesser Redpoll. Penn. Arct. Zool, ii., p. 379, No. 262. 



Arctic Finch. Idem, p. 379, A. Young. 



Lesser Redpoll {Fringilla Linaria). Wilson, iv., p. 42, pi. 30, f. 4, male ; and ix., p. 120. 



Fringilla Linaria. Selry, Brit. Orn., 8vo., p. 279. Bonap. Syn., p. 112, No. 184. 



Tecurmaseesh. Cree Indians. 



This neat and hardy little bird is one of the few permanent residents in the 

 fur-countries, where it may be seen in the coldest weather, on the banks of lakes 

 and rivers, hopping among the reeds and carices, or clinging to their stalks. 

 Although numerous throughout the year, even in the most northern districts, a 

 partial migration takes place, as large flocks visit Pennsylvania for a month or 

 two in severe winters. — R. 



The instructive and highly-interesting account of this bird, given by our friend 

 Mr. Selby in the text to his Illustrations of British Ornithology, first awakened 

 our suspicions on the true station of the Linnets ; and these have been confirmed 

 by a minute inspection of all the British species, which, with his accustomed 

 liberality, Mr. Selby has sent for our examination. As the Scansorial type of the 

 Coccothraustinw, or, more properly, of the typical Finches, this genus should have 

 many of the habits of the Parlance, which Mr. Selby's testimony fully substantiates. 

 Its connexion to Carduelis, the Tenuirostral type, is quite obvious ; while its 

 affinity to the Pyrrhidince, by means of the two preceding species, at once shews 

 its aberrant situation. We suspect that both our Linaria tephrocotis and Wilson's 

 Fringilla purpurea are subordinate forms, or sub-genera of Linaria; but this 

 cannot be ascertained without a more perfect knowledge, by analysis, of the 

 neighbouring groups than we have yet acquired. — Sw. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a male, killed, May 20, 1826, at Fort Franklin, lat. 65J . 



Colour. — Frontal band, chin, and line before the eyes, dark liver-brown or blackish; crown 

 blood-red ; sides of the chin, the throat, breast, flanks, and rump, carmine-red, mingled with 

 much white. General upper plumage light yellowish-grey, darkly streaked with blackish- 

 brown ; wings and tail feathers the same, edged with white. Wing covers with two narrow 

 bars of dull white : belly white. Bill yellowish, darker above. Legs, black. 



Form, typical. Bill perfectly entire, the tip very acute, the commissure straight. Nos- 

 trils concealed by incumbent feathers. Wings long, pointed : first, second, and third quills 

 nearly of equal length. Tail acutely forked ; depth of the fork half an inch. Tarsi slender, 



2 M 2 



